Fall is a time of preparing for the quiet, and stillness that winter brings. It is a time when we take stock of what we have, what we’ve had, and do we want to have it into the future? Do we need it? If we keep it, where will we put it?
Fall is the time when we ask ourselves, I’m ready for that change, but am I ready to make the jump? Fall is when we risk tripping the most – leaves, twigs, and the unexpected. It is an intricate time; summer is ending, winter is around the corner. If we wait too long, it gets too cold, and if we don’t do it during the summer, it’s too late. But as we get closer to our deepest desires and the things that will make us ecstatically happy, one thing is clear – we are much more courageous than we give ourselves credit for. It’s the beginning of a transformative time when we can ask these questions, and truly want answers. Whether or not we are mentally, physically, spiritually, or psychologically ready for answers. It is a time when we can honestly be given credit to having some grace amid chaos, confusion, doubt, or stagnation.
Perhaps it’s during these times when we tell ourselves, if I must trip, then I will land gracefully…
On the other hand, tripping may not even happen. Fears have a way of tricking us into staying in stagnation mode. Ego plays its role by feeding us negativity and pointing out all the things that can go wrong. Ego also plays a part in telling us we don’t deserve to be happy.
But RMSAAM congratulates you; you are on the first steps; the right path, to following your heart. There is no greater joy, no greater satisfaction than being the conduit in which humankind, teams up to blaze new trails in creating health, well-being, and unconditional love to animal-kind. So, will you keep looking at the clock or calendar, and asking when is the right time to do this? When we listen to our heart, the only right time, is the time we heed its call.
The weekends are days we usually take care of things that get backed up during the week, things we forgot to do during the week, and things that we do just for weekend’s sake! In the midst of going, going, going, and gone… we sometimes run into a bit of a surprise along the way.
So on my way home after running errands on a fated Saturday, September 27, just last month, with the help of my mother, we spotted a tiny dog trying to cross a busy interstate, in a small line-up of villages called, Chile. You Chile lovers out there, I’m talking about Chile, New Mexico… And yes, for your information, there is plenty of Chile that has been harvested, roasted, and prepped to sell in pounds, Ristras, and… Oh, wait, I’m talking about my small rescue!
So, my mother gasps, and says, ‘Poor little dog, it’s going to get run over!’ and I say, “What? Where?” I’m driving, mind you, so my mind is on the road, yet, it’s not – because I just didn’t see the dog. So she points across the median, where the brave little dog has made it safely and barely across successfully – alive. Worse yet, it could have been me that might have taken her life.
I finally see the little dog, zig-zagging around the median trying to figure out what to do next. I make a U-turn at my next opportunity, swing around, get out of my car, and walk carefully over to the sweetest little brown and white-spotted Chihuahua I think I’ve ever seen. I call to the pup (I can see the dog is still very young) and call out softly and reach down to pet comfort the frightened dog. By some miracle, she stays still. I am able to pick her up and carry her over to the car where my mother gently holds the darling pup. Before we drive off, we ascertain the pup is female. I point my car towards home; the dog is coming with me.
She is terrified; shaking and somewhat sluggish either from exhaustion and trauma, hunger, or thirst, or all of the above.
I wait a few days, and take the pup in to the local animal shelter to see if anyone has tried to claim her by putting up a flier. No one has claimed her, she is not chipped, and so therefore, on that fated Saturday, after seven months of pining away in grief for my dog Samson, who I lost back in February of this year, I now have a new companion, who I never expected and have fallen deeply in love with, Azra.
I wonder who actually rescued who on that Saturday. RMSAAM wants to hear your rescue stories, so please, share them with us!
I love it when my dog is acting cute or silly and I am able to capture a photograph of it. I like to use my camera phone, and I am sure you do as well. Unlike my digital camera, I always have my phone with me making it easier to snap photos of those special moments. However, I have noticed that the photos from my camera phone do not turn out quite as well as I hope or my subject decides to move and chase the squirrel running across my yard. So how can we improve the way we take pictures of our dogs using our cell phones?
Camera phones are continually evolving, becoming of higher quality all of the time. And, they are so easy to use! Here are some tips for getting those photos to show off your dog and his or her unique personality.
Turn the flash off to avoid creating red eye. The flash can also startle your dog. Always try to use natural light instead.
Make sure that you focus on you dog’s head. These days, smart phones have the capability for you to select the subjects in your picture you want to focus on.
Get down to eye level to take the photograph; it is more flattering for your dog.
Offer treats to your dog get you’re his attention.
Use the rapid-fire option if you catch your pet doing something cute. That way your phone takes pictures continuously and you have a better chance of capturing a good shot.
Try to take photo early in the morning or just before sunset. These are the times during the day when natural light is perfect for photography.
Turn your pet’s face toward the sun when outdoors so their expression is bright and visible.
Follow these suggestions and you will have better luck snapping an adorable photo of your pet. If you take a good shot, email it to us at info@rmsaam.com and we will put it up on our Facebook page. Whoever gets the most comments/likes between today, September 9th and 5pm MST on September 16th, will win a prize!
Use these acupressure points every day, for dogs with Hip Dysplasia and weekly, for dogs with a predisposition to Hip Dysplasia or any signs of hind end pain or lameness.
Canine Hip Dysplasia is the most common cause of rear leg lameness in dogs. The highest incidence occurs in the larger breeds, such as St. Bernard’s, Newfoundland’s, Rottweiler’s, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, and Labrador Retrievers.
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint; the head of the femur meets with the pelvis at the acetabulum, forming the hip joint. (The acetabulum is a concave surface of the pelvis.) In dogs, hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket causing a loose joint that in its more severe form, can cause crippling lameness over time, and painful arthritis of the joints. Instability occurs as muscle development lags behind the rate of skeletal growth. As the stress of weight-bearing exceeds the strength limits of the supporting connective tissue and muscle, the joint becomes loose and unstable. This allows for free play of the femoral head in the acetabulum, which promotes abnormal wear and tear, and can lead to discomfort, pain, arthritis, and lameness.
Acupressure cannot correct the genetic defect of the hip structure, but it can help minimize the progression of deterioration of the joint and help minimize the symptoms.
Use the acupressure points below, every day, for dogs with Hip Dysplasia and weekly, for dogs with a predisposition to Hip Dysplasia or any signs of hind end pain or lameness.
Massage these points clockwise first on the right side until the dog has a energy release such as a yawn, licking, a bark, a stretch, or any obvious sign of relaxation, but for no more than 30 seconds. Repeat on the left side.
St 36- To maintain proper weight, and promote overall wellness
BL11 – To promote strong bones
Sp3- To promote good muscle strength
BL54- MASTER Point for Back and Hip
Sp6- Kidney, Liver, and Spleen Yin Balancing Point
GB34- Strengthens Tendons
LI4 Can be used separately or in conjunction with the other points for Pain or to prevent Pain
About Beth Pelosa:
Beth is a Certified Large and Small Animal Acupressure Practitioner, Animal Acupressure Instructor, and owner of Equine Energy Works, LLC. In addition to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupressure, Beth has also studied Dr. McLaren’s Photonic Light Therapy and other vibrational healing modalities including equine massage, Bach Flower Remedies therapy, floral acupressure and aromatherapy. To read more about Beth, click here, and if you’d like to know when the upcoming Acupressure courses are going to be held, you click on the calendar. We look forward to meeting you!
We have been having an unusual amount of rain in Colorado this summer. With rain comes thunder and lightning, and the reminder of how much anxiety it can cause our dogs (and ourselves as well). And everyone has his or her favorite thunderstorm story. In many instances, dogs that are fearful of thunderstorms also experience stress with other loud noises like fireworks, gunshots, garbage trucks, and airplanes. The good news, however, is that dogs can benefit from calming therapies in these instances. For example, soft music, flower essences, and acupressure and massage can all be helpful in alleviating your dog’s stress in these situations.
Both acupressure and massage are effective tools in soothing and relaxing muscles and they work well in conjunction with soft music in a quite, peaceful, and safe area of the home. A good place to begin is by gently stroking your pet from head to tail in long, slow, strokes to relax them until they feel comfortable enough to lie down. To massage, create small, circular movements from head to tail along the sides the spine making sure to massage either side of the body equally as well as the base of the skull for energy balance. Acupressure is also a great choice to help calm a distressed and frightened pet. After massaging, apply light pressure to the area in the center of the skull between the ears.
It is essential that you remain cautious when working with animals that are scared as even the sweetest pets can act on impulse in situations that cause them anxiety and stress. Approach your pet gently and slowly and always pay close attention to their body language.
If you cook, you probably have heard about turmeric; a staple in Thai, Indian, and Persian dishes. Tumeric is an herb largely known for its deep orange/yellow color. However, you may not realize that turmeric has been such a remarkable natural remedy for people for thousands of years that it is certain pet owners will be compelled to try it for their pets as well. But is turmeric an effective treatment for pets? And most importantly, is it safe?
Curcumin, which has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is the most active ingredient in turmeric. Researchers have speculated that the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin show promise in the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions. And yes, it is found to be safe for pets!
The recommended dosage is 1/8 to 1/4 tsp/day, for every 10 lbs weight.
Tumeric is a simple and easy, yet effective everyday home treatment to compliment regular massage sessions for animals. Regular consumption of turmeric in the diet can ease stiffness and reduce pain and joint swelling in pets!
See the light is changing
the air tastes different;
the leaves feel it too,
the trees are twisting this way and that
to soak in the light and warmth
that will soon turn cold
See my fur is changing,
it feels thicker
even though I feel slimmer
the sun is dipping sooner it seems
dark, and the air quiet
Humans might be slowing down
but they seem rushing too
so much to do before the setting sun
and so much to have get done before the rising sun
but they seem slower, thoughtful somehow
but how would I know?
You avid footballers may actually get this quicker than us, ‘non-footballers’ – one football team, say, the Broncos… have the honor/advantage of the first kick-off in the game. The auditorium is howling in excitement and suspense. Which way will the ball fall, or rather, which team is going to be ahead of the game and catch it, breaking into the full run and toss that sets the game into motion?
Perthro, the image above, is one of those runes that set a similar tone in our lives. (Those of you whom are just now for the first time reading about runes, they are an ancient form of alphabet used by the Norse peoples of long ago; they are now used often for intuitive guidance.) Every morning, we awaken to a new day, and a new purpose. We forget that however, because we become immersed in our daily and repetitive lives. We stop seeing magic everywhere, and new opportunity; it has become replaced with apathy and unawareness.
Perthro is a rune of stirrings… new beginnings, mystery and a bit like unwrapping a present on Christmas Day. What’s in the package? When we’re off to work in the mornings, what will we encounter on the way? Might we have an unexpected chance at being a Good Samaritan somehow for a person or animal that may need some help? Might we hear something on the radio that resonates with a challenge or issue and miraculously helps solve a problem? Might we suddenly get an urge to surprise loved ones with a gift, or flowers, or? (Use your imagination folks!)
This rune for this week 8/18-8/25; speaks of such unexpected and unknown opportunities and chances that we should prepare, and open up for. It’s a time of great surprises, and showering gifts, unexpected rewards, and/or delving into challenges that look muddy and ruddy, only to be wiped clean again. So, while not all of us are part of the Bronco’s team, we are part of wide community throughout the world, and we too will have chances for a great kick-off!
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